When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 2004 Cayenne S non-turbo with around 168K miles. Has anyone seen a failing water pump leak onto the pulley like this? It was replaced, along with the thermostat and starter around the time of Texas Snowmageddon of 2021 as the pulley was making all kinds of noise, no leak though. I have seen pictures of failing water pumps with coolant seen under the pulley and around the seal (along with corrosion) and with a quick google search I wasn't able to find a water pump leaking onto the pulley like this. I haven't had one leak before that I can recall and don't have anything to compare.
As the throttle body and intake tubing sits above the pulley, I don't think there is anything leaking onto the pulley, which leads me to think it is the water pump.
Additional symptoms compliment a failing water pump and include: engine temperature rising while the car is idle and the temperature decreases while moving.